Wednesday, 11 December 2013

It's mid December and I'm working through all of the great releases that came out this year, piecing together one of those year end 'best of' lists. Haast's Eagled from South Wales have not made this task any easier. Just a few weeks ago the band released their debut album comprising of near on 35 minutes of exceptionally crafted songwriting - epic atmospheric riff driven doom overflowing with light and shade throughout. This album will find its way into the already too long list, no doubt about it.

The opening track "Viking" crackles to life with a slow fade in, bass and droning piano notes which then give way to massive drums, a simple yet punishingly heavy riff, and eventually a unique bowels of hell growl from the vocal department. The vocals are menacing and controlled rather than the gratingly forced/shrieking vox that abounds in the genre (which are great when done well, but more often that not are just overbearing and generic). And then comes a surprise, the contrasting high end vocals at around 3:15 - very effective and unexpected, great stuff for sure.

Each of the tracks on the album kick off with near on a few minutes of intro. "The Eye of God" has a sad feel to it throughout, quite similar to that vibe that Pallbearer and Loss invoke so well. This time around the track opens with clean vocals and then the lord of the depths steps in once again with that disturbing low end growl. "Tracking the footsteps of Goliath" is aptly named, a slow, lumbering instrumental which hits its stride and does not deviate from the path of the main riff that is its backbone and runs very nicely into the album closer, "Cruithne Tide". This 12:30 finisher is a great instrumental which brings further diversity with wah soaked solos and some mid pace almost rock feel in the middle.Overall this is nothing short of an excellent debut from Haast's Eagled.

Saturday, 23 November 2013

WICKED CITY (Melbourne, AUSTRALIA) launched their killer new album "WORSTED YARN" on 180g vinyl on 22 Nov with a blistering live show at The Tote, along with support from Legends of Motorsport, DEAD, and Athol.

This is Wicked City's 3rd full length album. Also available on 12" gatefold vinyl with free high-quality MP3 download - limited to 300 copies on 180g vinyl.The vinyl and digital download are available for purchase via the bands Bandcamp page - hardened riffage with an exotic feel, frantic drums, this band is a 3 piece precision machine, drilling the stoner vein in a sense but not with that 'riff by numbers' trap that so many bands fall into. Highly recommended riffs from the land down under!

Sunday, 17 November 2013

Elder are an amazingly talented band, both their self titled debut album and their 2011 followup 'Dead Roots Stirring' are superb and show a band rapidly progressing and exploring the realms of heaviness with a major emphasis on melody. Simply put, this band truly strive to put out great music. Back in May the band posted up news that they are slowly but surely working toward delivering their next album. Elder played the 2013 Roadburn Festival, with many great reviews of their electrifying live performance. Burning World Records in conjunction with the Roadburn Festival have now released Elders set from Roadburn in digital format on Bandcamp, as well as pre-orders for black/white/gold vinyl over at the Burning World Records site.

Below is an excellent HD quality live clip shot of the track 'Dead Roots Stirring' by Jorg Steinhauer from a show in Dresden Germany on 17 April 2013, just 3 days before Elder took Roadburn by storm. Check out the footage of Elder performing live over at the Roadburn site too, where they were named as one of the unexpected surprises of the Festival.

Keep up to date with all things Elder over their Facebook page.Matt, the drummer from Elder, is also playing in a band called Keefshovel. They have released a demo which is available over on their Bandcamp.

Sunday, 20 October 2013

System of Venusofficially released their debut album in July 2013, and just this month the band has launched the digital version available from their Bandcamp page.

From the straight up riffing of album opener 'Blackrock', to the brooding bass and lyrics of 'Monster Ego' and heavy almost doom like riffing in 'Dr Dumb', what is immediately evident is the bands songwriting skill, and their intent to inject the hooks of each track, melodies largely borne on the back of vocalist/guitarist Fatima Bašić's strong vocals, directly into your subconscious more and more with each listen.

'Dancing in Hells Garden' stands out to my ear as one of the album highlights - kicking straight into a driving rhythm the track showcases the diversity of the band with equal parts stoner rock & heavy alternative rock. Twisting tempo changes, crashing drums and the growing urgency of the riffs & vocals build this track to an awesome crescendo at around the 2 minute mark, and the band close it all out with a jamming stoner riff reminiscent of The Atomic Bitchwax,

'Gannets Drive' provides another high point, the tendrils of the opening riff invade your mind, being driven along by the excellent drumming and heavy bass. This track brings into focus the overall quality of the production on this album which is absolutely superb and complements the well honed songs, all of which stands as a testament to the effort the band have invested making sure their debut recording will turn heads.This band cant be pinned firmly down to one genre` and this provides for a refreshing listen as it is equal parts heavy and melodic, adding further to its replayability. 'Dr Dumb' contains some of the heaviest moments on the album, with a searing guitar solo over an almost doom like riff, and 'Nothing' is a near on 7 minute journey of melodic heavy alternative rock - a mid tempo kicker which alike 'Dancing in Hells Garden' finishes out with a lengthy jam, albeit with more subdued tones.Album closer 'Beast' starts and ends with a middle eastern riff & rhythm, sort of like a sped up version of Om, and crushes in with heavy guitars and chilling lyrics. A rock solid debut album - looking forward to the next installment from System of Venus.

Physical copies of the album, and album/T-shirt combos are available from the bands official website at www.systemofvenus.com/& digital downloads at theirBandcamppage. Check out their Facebookpage too and stay up to date with news & upcoming gigs.

Monday, 7 October 2013

"The tyranny of five riders raging, riding heavy, until every
soul is struck down, ill-prepared to meet their doom." And those 5
riders are CLAGG. This is a masterwork, there are some out of body
moments on this album.

Album opener 'Five Curses' kicks straight into 11 minutes of earth shaking low end riffs,with the band taking their foot off the gas to slow it down even further about halfway through to let the gravity they have created do its work.

The title track 'Gather your Beasts' is a
punishing journey, with the ominous sound of thunderous drums, onwards
to crushingly low and melodic realms with tortured cathartic vocals
exacting their toll...

'The Great Mortality' is another example of the bands ability to build into a mid pace riff that makes the head nod a bit faster, then back right off to let the weight of the riff come crashing in. Obey the Riff! This track destroys live - looking around the crowd during the last few minutes of this track at the bands recent gig at the Doomsday Festival in support of Church of Misery, the majority of the crowd were leaning back, doom faces on, and legs buckling under the weight of it all.

'The Dream is Dead' lightens the mood, swinging in with a rock riff, but that party does not last long - after a killer solo the mood turns grim, and after a menacing buildup the band unleash a crushing finish to this 10 minute killer track.

And it is all wrapped up with a track which has become a mainstay of Clagg's blistering live shows, with the surging, rhythmic hammering that is 'Pathways to Oblivion' - this track was originally released on Claggs debut album in 2005 'Let The Galaxy Burn', but here it is 8 years later, re-envisioned and near on a minute longer than the original version, and with the monstrous production that this entire album has been soaked in. Decapitation by audio. Amazing. Along with the title track, perhaps the best on the album and finishes everything off with pure destruction.Nothing short of a massive production throughout this album, courtesy of Jason PC(Goatsound Studio & in The Ruiner, Blood Duster, Dern Rutlidge, Youngbreeder) and Adam Calaitzis (Toyland Studio), with mastering by Dav Byrne of Clagg and Agonhymn, and killer cover art from Boyd Synnott. To my mind this is the bands finest moment to date, and given that their 2009 album 'Lord of the Deep' is so damn good, its a testament to the work thats been put into 'Gather Your Beasts'. A long time coming, and definitely worth the wait.CLAGG have just this weekend gone launched this album in the best way possible, supporting none other than the legendary Church of Misery across the amazing Doomsday Festival (review & photos of this ridiculously awesome event to come later in the week) put together by Nathan Millet of Summonus and Los Hombres Del Diablo.Currently available in digital format via Bandcamp, or CD (contact the band at teamclagg@hotmail.com). There is a whisper of a vinyl release in the works, stay tuned.....Oppressive riffs await within!

Saturday, 5 October 2013

Very recent announcement from HEATHEN SKULLS TOURING, the mighty EYEHATEGOD are set to tour Australia, celebrating 25 awesome years. More details to be announced soon.

Great news indeed. EHG were amazing live in their last Melbourne shows.

Fingers crossed for a Crowbar tour down under in 2014 in their 25th year also...(just my 2 bobs worth there!)

More details (dates, venues etc) are set to be announced soon.

RRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFS!

Check out HEATHEN SKULLS on their official website: A reliable promoter with a long history of touring amazing bands throughout Australia, along with what would likely be the most impressive backline hire in country, with some very unique and highly sought after vintage gear.

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Amazing announcements in the last 24 hours from the Roadburn Festival: YOB to play two shows, one of them being 'The Great Cessation" album in its entirety. AND! The riff lord joins the lineup with CROWBAR being announced. Stunning additions to what was already a special list of bands. Amazing art in the range of Roadburn posters too I have to say, makes me want to wallpaper the house with them all! Also on the bill are WINDHAND, SOURVEIN, INTER ARMA and the destructive riff force of CONAN.

Mike from YOB had the following to say in relation to the announcement “Coming back to Roadburn for a third time….to play our fifth and sixth sets total at this festival…. it is difficult to come up with words to adequately express our feelings. We have made it very clear how much we love the spirit of the Roadburn Festival. It is an unparallelled experience encompassing everything we embrace as both artists and fans. We will bring what we hope to be the best we have ever done in both of our sets of music. Playing The Great Cessation live in entirety will be a YOB first. For our second set, we will perform songs covering our entire discography, including something new as well. To be able to play, to be in attendance as fans, and to once again walk the streets of Tilburg and live in the soul that is Roadburn is something we are very grateful for. April 2014 is too far away.” (quote courtesy of www.roadburn.com)

Here is the full list of bands playing Roadburn 2014 (apologies if I have left any out!):

Yob, Crowbar, Windhand, Conan, Sourvein, Inter Arma

ASG, Horse Latitudes, Graves at Sea

Gozu, Opeth, Freedom Hawk, Anciients

Locrian, The Shrine, Papir, Glitter Wizard, Aqua Nebula Oscillator

The Cult of Dom Keller, Scorpion Child, Sula Bassana w/ band

Loop, 11 Paranoias, Mansion, Tyranny, Brutus, The Vintage Caravan

Momentum, E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr, True Widow, The Heads

Tickets for Roadburn 2014 will go on sale on Friday, October 11th 2013.

Three-day tickets will be available for 165 Euros (excl. servicefees); four-day tickets will cost 185 Euros (excl. servicefees). Afterburner-only tickets will cost 32.50 Euros (excl. servicefees). Please note that one-day tickets are not available for the Thursday, Friday or Saturday Roadburn dates. Online buyers can order a maximum of four tickets.